I am going to admit upfront that one of the few things I am not great talking about is politics. I don’t understand the intricacies in the way I should, and if we are being completely honest; I think there is mass corruption on both sides that makes all the issues hazier than they should be. I also think we are a country full of ignorant people. I do not say that to ruffle feathers, I simply think that people are far too quick to take and repeat information that suits their purposes rather than doing their own research. Half the time I don’t think most of us really know what we are talking about when we are discussing politics. I try to educate myself and stay on top of the issues, but I will even take the ignorant label upon myself. I consider myself to be someone who works to educate herself on these topics more than most people, and I still don’t think I fully understand.
So, I don’t necessarily want to discuss this from a political perspective, even though it is a political topic. I will say that in many ways I am a bleeding heart liberal (when it comes to children I think we should be bending over backwards to give each and every child the same opportunities) but that in other ways I am stingy as they come (I do not have patience for adults not willing to take responsibility for their own circumstances. I cannot handle people intent on abusing the system. There is no sympathy from me in those cases).
But I am happy this health bill passed.
There. I said it. I have officially split my readers right down the middle and half of you will probably never come back to see me again.
I’m sorry about that, but I’m not sorry about being happy about this bill.
I’ve heard a lot of arguments against it today, and have been appalled to learn that individual states will now be suing the federal government in order to stop it. I think if something like health care is going to tear us apart as a country, it may be time for us to re-examine our priorities.
I have heard our president referred to as the n-word (and really, is there anything more ignorant you can do than throw out a racial slur to defend your point? I have no respect for people whose intelligence level is so low that this is the tactic they choose to take) and I have seen people who seem to be more opposed to him than to any bill. People who seem to be fighting in an election that is already over. People who are likely going to fight tooth and nail against everything that comes from this administration, solely because they are still bitter about who won.
If we all took that same attitude after every change in office, would anything ever be accomplished?
Because I am pretty sure there are people just as stubborn, angry, and bitter on both sides who could make that happen. People who could stall progress for the rest of our lives.
People who would rather fight to be right than give something a chance to prove them wrong.
I have seen people intent on defaming something they clearly don’t understand. Intent on winning as opposed to recognizing that sometimes conceding to a loss may be what is best for the Country as a whole. Sometimes uniting with a common purpose may be better than being right.
When you lose sight of that, it is my understanding you end up in a civil war.
Is this issue worth going that far?
I can’t argue from a states-rights standpoint, because I will be honest in admitting that I don’t know what all should be involved there. What I do know is that if individual states were so intent on fixing health care, perhaps they should have done it long ago.
What I also know is that health care has been allowed to become a big business. Insurance companies have been allowed to take advantage and turn people away when they need their services the most. Politicians have turned a blind eye, in exchange for who knows what. In the 8 years I have been gainfully employed at jobs that have provided me health insurance (keep in mind, there were gaps in there. I did not have insurance while I was in school and for the 2 years prior to moving to Alaska) I have seen my portion go from a $10 co-pay at every visit no matter what, to a 20% co-pay and a hefty deductable. I am too young to have seen such a shift in out of pocket costs. That is too short a time period for things to have changed so drastically.
And I am here to tell you, every last one of us is stupid if we don’t think that trend is going to continue without intervention.
Beyond that though, more and more people in our Country are simply unable to gain coverage. I could easily become one of them. While I have found some alternative options to health care (thanks in part to some of you!) there would still be obstacles for me. Under the current system, if I lost my job tomorrow it is very possible I could have an extremely difficult time obtaining health insurance or be stuck with premiums I simply couldn’t afford.
The sad thing is, that could happen to anyone. I am responsible. I am hard working. I live a healthy lifestyle. Do not kid yourselves and think that you are in a position where you couldn’t possibly find yourself without health insurance tomorrow. Do not believe that it couldn’t happen to you. Or your children. All it would take would be one disease, one car accident, one mistake; and you would be bankrupt.
If it were you, would you be fighting this reform so hard?
If it were someone you loved facing mounting bills?
I like that the new bill promises health insurance for all. I like that it requires people to insure themselves; to be responsible for their own coverage.
I like that it will not allow insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. I like that it will permit even those people fair premiums.
Many of the complaints today have involved a lot of “me, me, me” A lot of “I don’t want to see my coverage change”. I’m here to tell you, as things stand your coverage could change any day. You could be laid off, or fired and unable to obtain new coverage. Even worse, you could have to sit back as your current coverage changes all on its own. Are we blind to the changes of the last 8 years? Do we not see how much coverage has changed for the worst already?
Are we so selfish that we think that as long as we are covered we don’t care who isn’t?
Because it could be you tomorrow.
And then who is it you are going to want to help you? When you can’t get coverage and you can’t afford your mounting health care costs, who are you going to want to bail you out?
I do not agree with everything in this bill, but I feel like it is at least an attempt to fix a flailing system.
And the last I checked, until right now no one else has even made a step in the right direction.
Life is about choices. It is about choosing your battles.
Sometimes it is about accepting defeat.
At the end of the day there are so many worse battles you could lose than the one that ends with everyone in America being insured.
Regardless of what your take is on this bill, don’t ever forget that you could be the one.
The one unable to get coverage. The one facing bankruptcy. The one with no options.
How hard would you be fighting then?
(if you would like to discuss this post and this bill, you can do so here)
ADSPACE
